Cell phones on a plane? If the brief periods of torture waiting for departure and taxiing to the terminal after landing are any indication, I hope that we'll still be allowed to wear battery powered noise-canceling headphones. At least until the general public gets the message that shouting into a cell phone doesn't make you sound any clearer to the person on the other end.

I'm so glad I don't fly very often anymore-if I had to make cross-country flights and was told I couldn't use my laptop during the flight, I don't know what I'd do. Probably read, but that's beside the point. :)

I guess I really do not need to fly that much anymore, I will just spend the money on Video Conf gear and FedEx to ship documents to the far end. It has been a policy of the airlines (read the disclaimer on the back of your ticket) to decline any responsibility to damage to luggage (including your PC when checked) even though they will pay for some damage to your luggage (but only up to a point) however PC's are NOT included in that policy. As far as I am concerned if I turn over something of mine to someone for transport I hold them responsible for its condition at the other end of the trip. Why do the airlines get away with this???

I don't consider Air travel an option anyway except in case of a dire emergency.I'd rather take a little time an enjoy some comfort and freedom.

1. All US airlines are nationalized, along with Amtrak, which is developed to European sophistication. 2. "Thin Client" minis, cellphones, MP3's are provided by carrier, served via high-security means.These can be free, and ad-laden, or expensive, and ad-free, like class divisions: the media purchases help pay for the service (even cellphones carry ads, which break in upon dialing). 3. Internet is available, but highly secure: one can download applications, one's own desktop or server, but cannot connect with Al Qaida, Al Gore, Taliban, The NY Times, Barbara Boxer, etc. Default site is a Disney alternative reality/fantasy game portal . 4. For long trips, one toiletry/personal product provider has contract, again, ad driven. 5. Cheap frequent fare rewards include codes to bypass ads. Kids fly free, but must wear product-identified clothing, and take kiddie-pitch on their game-boxes.

If the airlines do allow cell phone use in flight, it will be just one more reason to avoid air travel like the plague. I agree with Marc except that if forced to fly I'll reserve the right to ask the loud-mouthed yahoo jabbering in the next seat to pipe down.

You think there are cranky travelers now. I would put money on in-flight altercations. You know the type that will cause it. This will become a security probelm that can be avoided but won't be because there is a buck to be made.

I like flying but if a laptop ban comes to be, I will avoid flying as much as possible. You just can't do this to business people.

The ultimate goal of the world-wide terrorists is to eliminate globalism; isolating countries by the curtailment of travel and overseas businesses. This will allow them unfettered control of their respective countries, of course with themselves at the top of the food chain. The more disincentivising restrictions placed on travellers, the fewer people will travel. This will drive international transportation carriers into non-profitability and eventually out of business, no matter how much the government subsidizes them. Of course we could just stop flying. Takes longer, but at least I can still drive to Florida in my van with all my gadgets. Or I can take a ship to Europe. At least I haven't heard of any terrorists using U-boats in the North Atlantic to torpedo cruise ships.

Notebooks are being banned because of cheap batteries undergoing "rapid disassembly" (This term was actually used in a recall notice.) due to some corners being shaved in some factory somewhere. Do you think for an instant that the risk adverse won't move quickly to ban any device with a NiCad or Lithium based power source once its determined that one of the little devices could have their battery undergo similar "rapid disassembly"? Regardless, since we can't bring water on the plane anymore don't you think that anything that could contain something potentially destructive will soon be banned as well? Cell phones seem highly suspect devices to me. Pretty soon we'll all have to don disposable suits checking everything we entered the airport with. Yeesh. I agree with Michael Houst this sort of over reaction to risks is letting the terrorists win. Now you just have to propose a reasonably viable threat to have a huge impact. What's next? Nasty email threats shutting down airports? If I gotta go, I'd like to go quick rather than have the mind-numbing tedium of 40+ hours on a train travel ling cross country do me in. Note to transportation sector: Stop being lazy! Find a way to let me keep my toys while keeping your assets safe!

The day the airlines allow the use of cell phones in-flight is the day I quit flying them. Amtrac and automobile travel is already better than the airlines for trips of less than about 600 miles. Is there any industry in the world that is so inconsiderate of its customers and more irritating to them than the commercial airlines? If the government would stop bailing the airlines out and let free enterprise run its course and kill off the poorly managed ones to let new, better managed ones emerge, air travel would soar and passengers would be better served.

I just bought a Toshiba notebook so it will be interesting to see what I get when it arrives!